Cheap Montana Auto Insurance for 2023

Known by residents as “Big Sky Country”, Montana is a state that is popular with tourists that love to explore the great outdoors. With natural attractions like Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and topography ranging from flat plains to the jagged Rocky Mountains, Montana is a large state with a lot of roads. 

If you’re on those roads, you need Montana auto insurance. Understanding auto insurance is the first step towards buying with confidence. Below we’ll explain Montana auto insurance laws, take a look a the average cost of auto insurance in Montana, and more.

Before you buy Montana auto insurance, make sure you’ve shopped around. Enter your ZIP code above to compare fast, free Montana auto insurance quotes.

Montana Insurance Laws And Requirements

In Montana, the state liability coverage minimums are:

• Bodily Injury Liability Insurance – $25,000 per person
• Bodily Injury Liability Insurance – $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage Liability Insurance – $10,000 per accident

Optional coverages in MT include:

• Comprehensive Coverage
• Collision Coverage
• Medical Payments Coverage
• Rental Car Reimbursement Coverage
• Roadside Assistance / Towing Coverage
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)

As with the majority of states, Montana auto insurance operates under what is known as the tort system of auto insurance. In short, this means that when a driver causes an accident, they will be labeled the party who is at fault, and this driver and their insurance will pay out claims and be subject to lawsuits. There are both upsides and downsides to the tort system, but it works well enough that most drivers should feel confident with their insurance.

State law requires that drivers in Montana prove financial responsibility by purchasing at least minimum coverage auto insurance. Bodily injury liability insurance, which covers medical treatment, lost wages, hospital costs, and funeral expenses for other parties that are injured in an accident where you are at fault.

For instance, if you cause a crash with another car and the driver suffers an injury that costs $5,000 to treat, your bodily injury liability insurance will pay out this claim. Drivers must purchase BIL coverage of no less than $25,000 per person, per accident, and $50,000 for all parties in a single accident.

Montana also requires its drivers to purchase property damage iability insurance, which is essentially like the above Bodily Injury Liability except it covers automobile, property, and other damage costs from an accident where you are at fault.

Again, this insurance is not for any property that you own, but for others’ property that you’ve damaged as a result of the crash. State law requires drivers to have a minimum of $10,000 in property damage liability coverage.

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Montana Auto Insurance Rates

Insurance rates in Montana are slightly lower than the national average when comparing rates from the best auto insurance companies that operate in the state. In June 2011, the median cost for auto insurance in Montana was $1299 per year, which is a bit cheaper than the national average of $1440.

Drivers who live in Montana’s major cities end up paying a bit more, thanks to the higher risk involved with insuring city drivers. Those in Missoula can count on paying an average of $1407 per year in auto insurance costs, and drivers who call Billings home will pay around $1650.

A bit of research generally turns up discounts with at least one of the Montana auto insurance companies offering a policy that works to fill your needs.

There are a lot of factors that auto insurance companies take into consideration when determining your rates. Take a look at our overview here.

While many of these factors are simply based on your own driving record, two things that affect even the safest of drivers are age and gender. However, Montana’s difference between genders is fairly small, even between adolescent males and females.

Montana Auto Insurance Rates by Company

Though the state boasts fairly middle-of-the-road auto insurance rates overall, let’s take a look at how rates vary between some of the largest companies.

But which companies are the largest, holding the most market share percentage in the region?

Driving Statistics In Montana

One of the many reasons that drivers in Montana enjoy lower than average auto insurance rates is that auto crime is virtually non-existent in the state. In 2009, just 1,456 vehicles were reported stolen. This number reflects a drop of 25% from the 2005 peak, which saw 1,917 cars disappear off of Montana’s streets.

It will be tough for Montana to continue to improve in this area, but the theft rate is trending downward and future years could see even fewer auto thefts in the state.

In regards to crashes and accidents, Montana’s drivers have been improving as the years pass. In 2009, Montana recorded 20,967 total crashes, with 202 of those resulting in fatalities. This is down a few percent from the previous year, which saw 21,969 crashes and 208 fatalities.

As with most other states, factors such as alcohol and weather were major causes of accidents in the state, as was driver distraction. If drivers can continue to improve, it’s likely that Montana auto insurance will continue to decrease in cost.

As such a fantastic place for driving, the State of Montana does its part by having fair and reasonable auto insurance laws and insurance premium costs. As always, don’t forget to shop around and talk to friends to help discover discounts and other ways to get affordable auto insurance. 

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Montana Auto Insurance Agents Directory

Looking for auto insurance agents in Montana? Take a look at the list below.

Montana Auto Insurance Agents

• Get Affordable Big Timber, MT Auto Insurance Quotes (#current_year)
• Get Affordable Libby, MT Auto Insurance Quotes (#current_year)
• Get Affordable Lolo, MT Auto Insurance Quotes (#current_year)

Additional Montana Automobile Insurance Information

These sources can provide you with official information and assistance with auto insurance and driving laws in Montana.

• Motor Vehicle Division – Montana Department of Justice
• Vehicle Title and Registration – Montana Department of Justice
• Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance
• Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance
• Montana Highway Safety Laws

Find affordable Montana auto insurance right now. Just enter your ZIP code to see Montana auto insurance rates from top companies.

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